Thailand forum

Visa on Arrival at Bangkok airport

callarda

motodop
Posts: 25

I am a US citizen arriving in Bangkok (on flight from Burma) at 4:15 pm. I have a flight to Koh Samui at 7:45 pm. Do I have enough time to get a visa on arrival and pass through immigration? If I will be cutting it close, I would rather get the visa here in the US. (I live in Washington, DC).

Thanks,
Andrew

#1 Posted: 12/6/2010 - 04:13
callarda

motodop
Posts: 25

Also, is it true that you don't need to pay anything for a visa on arrival the first 30 days, and then you have to pay 1000 Baht (for a second entry), or do you have to pay the fee even if it is your first entry into Thailand?

#2 Posted: 12/6/2010 - 04:15
SBE

mahout
Posts: 1735
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Technically it's not a visa on arrival. If you arrive by air you get a 30 day visa exemption stamp as you go through customs. Getting the stamp in your passport doesn't take any more time than stamping a proper tourist visa would. Three and a half hours is loads of time ... even if the plane is late and there are longer than normal queues at immigration.

Don't know where you got the information in your second post from? You can get a free 30 day stamp as often as you like AFAIK... every time you enter Thailand by air.

#3 Posted: 12/6/2010 - 05:22
sirhalberd

adventurer
Posts: 264

Traveling with a U.S. passport you won't have a problem getting your passport stamped in for the free 30 days visa exemption. If you leave the country and fly back into Thailand you will get another free 30 days.

At one time there was a regulation that had a limit of no more than 90 days free out of 180 days. I don't think that is enforced any more.

You can get a free 60 day visa for Thailand right now until 31 March 2011 from Thai Embassies. They had this same program last year to stimulate more tourism after the Yellow Shirt protests.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255304150019

If you are visiting Myanmar try to see Mt. Popa and Bagan, they are pretty close together. Don't leave Burma with their money - no one wants it after you leave the country.

At Suvarnabhumi Airport there is a cheap food court on the first floor (not far from the Airport Express Bus kiosk, door where you can eat real cheap. Change your money to Thai baht at the terminal first. This same area on the first floor is also the place where you sign up for the public taxi (meter taxi) rides into the city.
http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/55

Good luck.

#4 Posted: 12/6/2010 - 09:04
callarda

motodop
Posts: 25

Thanks for all the info, folks!

#5 Posted: 12/6/2010 - 09:15